About Sterling Silver

Silver has been beloved throughout history; it is known to have been smelted as early as 4000 BC, and, as one of the most versatile known metals, has been used since then for jewelry, currency, religious and decorative objects, flatware and hollowware, photography, in solar panels, and even for medical applications because of its natural antibiotic properties.

Silver, like gold, in its pure state is too soft for daily use or wear. To make what we call sterling silver, pure silver is combined with 7.5% copper for hardness, making an alloy that is 92.5% silver - thus the traditional marking "925", signifying that the metal guaranteed to be 92.5% pure silver.

The standard of 92.5% for sterling silver was set by King Edward I of England in 1275 and has continued to be used since then throughout the world. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the etymology of the term "sterling" comes from the Old English "steorling" or "little star", as early Norman silver pennies were imprinted with a small star.

Uses or meanings of sterling silver:

In ancient times, silver was believed to represent or symbolize purity, clarity, awareness, focus, persistence, and strength. Its bright, clear color when polished also represents vision. In Ancient Greece, silver was the color of Artemis, goddess of the moon and the hunt. Even today, silver is still considered to represent moon energy; it enhances the power of the moon, particularly the new or full moon. In Ancient Egypt, the most precious metal was electrum, an alloy of gold and silver that was almost exclusively reserved for the pharaoh. The color silver in the Middle Ages represented responsibility and self control; it is a regal color and is ubiquitous in heraldry and coats of arms as the color "argent".

Those who use silver for healing say that it channels the body's energy; it also channels the positive energy from other gemstones, and is believed to attract, retain and enhance the properties of other stones and gemstones. Silver reflects negativity away from the wearer (as it reflects the sun); it protects against evil intent, reflecting the harm back to the sender.

Silver is related to the Third Eye chakra; thus it enhances psychic and intuitive energies, and brings eloquence to a speaker; it is also related to the brain and intellect.Save